MTSU Tennis Hosts Conference USA Tournament Amid Mixed Momentum for Men's and Women's Teams The Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) men’s and women’s tennis teams are set to host the Conference USA (CUSA) tournament from April 15 to 19 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This marks the first time both teams will compete in the event at their home venue, with the Blue Raiders carrying distinct levels of momentum heading into the weekend. The men’s squad aims to extend its streak of six consecutive conference championships, while the women’s team seeks a breakthrough after a challenging regular season. The men’s team enters the tournament with a 20-8 overall record, including a dominant 19-3 home slate. Their success has positioned them as the favorites to win the conference title, though head coach Jimmy Borendame acknowledges the pressure of maintaining their dominance. “I feel like I’ve got a target on my back every day,” Borendame said. Despite their strong performance, the roster has changed significantly from last season’s championship team. Four new transfers and four freshmen have joined the squad, leaving only two players from the previous year’s roster. “There’s eight out of 10 new guys on this team,” Borendame noted. “So it’s not really a repeat. It’s a whole new entity.” Ondrej Horak, the sole player on the current roster who has played under Borendame for four years, emphasized that the focus is on progression rather than repeating past success. “For me personally, I don’t feel any pressure,” Horak said. “I got used to it. For me, this is already four years of winning conference. It became… I don’t want to say normal, but the goal is to make Sweet 16, so this is part of it, part of the journey. And yeah, we’ve got to still work hard for it and fight. It’s not going to be easy.#murfreeboro_tennessee #conference_usa #mtsu #jimmy_borendame #ondrej_horak
Kennesaw State Men's Tennis Earns No. 4 Seed in 2026 Conference USA Championships Kennesaw State University's men's tennis team has been awarded the No. 4 seed in the 2026 Conference USA Tennis Championships, according to an announcement made by the league on Monday evening. The tournament will take place in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, from April 17 to April 19. The Owls, ranked fourth, will begin their postseason campaign by facing the No. 5 seed Delaware Blue Hens in the first round on April 17 at 11 a.m. EDT. The winner of that match will advance to the semifinals, where they will compete against the No. 1 seed and host team, Middle Tennessee, at 2 p.m. EDT on April 18. Live statistics for the semifinals and finals will be available, along with an ESPN+ live stream for the event. The Owls, with a 15-6 overall record and a 0-1 mark in conference play, will face Delaware, which carries a 13-9 record and a perfect 0-0 conference standing. The two teams did not meet during the regular season but share several common opponents, including Howard, Navy, Miami, UNCW, and William & Mary. Kennesaw State posted a 3-2 record against these teams, while Delaware recorded a 2-3 mark. This shared schedule highlights the competitive nature of the conference and sets the stage for an intriguing matchup in the tournament. The tournament structure will see the first-round matches determine the semifinalists, with the top two seeds automatically advancing to the semifinals. The final will be held on April 19, with the winner earning the conference championship title. The event will provide a platform for the participating teams to showcase their skills and compete for the top honor in Conference USA tennis.#kennesaw_state_university #conference_usa #murfreesboro_tennessee #delaware_blue_hens #kennesaw_state_owls
